September 5, 2009
Wasilla Grower Breaks Own World Record for Heaviest Cabbage at Fair
Wasilla farmer Steve Hubacek set a new record for the world’s heaviest cabbage last night at the Alaska State Fair – breaking the world record he set just two days prior at the Fair. Hubacek’s 127-pound cabbage bested his previous world record cabbage, which weighed in at 125.9 pounds during the Fair’s crop entry on Wednesday night.
The mammoth cabbage, named “The Beast” by its grower, not only set a new world record, but also earned Hubacek the first-place spot and a $2,000 prize in the Fair’s 14th annual Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off. The weigh-off, presented by the Alaska Division of Agriculture – Alaska Grown, was held Friday evening in the Farm Exhibits building on the fairgrounds.
Scott Robb of Palmer took second place in the competition with his 88.5-pound cabbage, and the Van Diest children took third with their 64.7-pound entry. They were awarded $1,000 and $500, respectively.
Hubacek’s double world record over the span of two days is particularly remarkable, as the previous world record had been held for the past 20 years – and prior to that, the cabbage world record had stood for 124 years. The previous world record of 124 pounds was set in Wales, United Kingdom, in 1989.
The record is also a milestone for the Fair, which has a world-wide reputation for its giant vegetables, but had never had a world-record cabbage entry until now.
In addition to the cabbage world record, Scott Robb set a new world record on Wednesday night with his 82.9-pound rutabaga – breaking his own previous world record of 79 pounds.
The new records will not be official until they are verified and approved by Guinness Book of World Records. The Fair is currently working to collect and submit the necessary paperwork to verify the new records.
According to the Fair Web site, a total of nine world records have been set at the Fair since 1993. The full list of records may be viewed at 2009 Large Vegetable List
For more information, visit alaskastatefair.org or contact the Fair media center at mediacenter@alaskastatefair.org or 907-746-3091.
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